Help - what can I read next please?

[BelligerentGhoul]

So, I've had quite a good run on books lately:

Rose Tremain's 'The Road Home' - I really liked this.

Margaret Atwood's 'Alias Grace' - I thought I'd read this before but actually I don't think I had. Enjoyed it hugely overall, although some of it annoyed me and the ending was a bit silly.

I have no idea what to read next though, or even what to start looking for. Any ideas please?

My favourite ever authors are Jane Austen and Stephen King. No chick lit and no Ian McEwan but other than that am fairly open-minded!

Read and liked Middlesex (The Virgin Suicides was even better, I thought). Kate A irritates me, much as I like Jackson Brodie!

Googling JF and VT now - thanks.

More please? :)

I loved The Virgin Suicides.

Robertson Davies? Especially The Deptford Trilogy.

What's that about HC?

Nice to see you btw - haven't seen you for ages!

Hello

Robertson Davies was a canadian writer. It is really hard to define his style - it is very witty and erudite but immensely readable. The Deptford Trilogy is the interlinking story of three people, one of whom is a history teacher with an obsession with saints, one the son of a rich man who undergoes therapy and one the child of a madwoman who runs away to join the circus......

Have I sold it to you?

I think you've mentioned him before actually. I'll deffo look out for him - do you think they'll be available in libraries?

Have you read Rose Tremain - 'Music and Silence'? - its great, and one I've been back to.

Kate Atkinson? 'Case Histories' is very good.

Jane Gardam - 'Old Filth' don't be put off by the name, it bears no relevance to the book, which is excellent.

Yup to Rose Tremain - think I've read most of hers.

Didn't like Case Histories much.

Googling the other - thanks. :)

I bet I have mentioned him before
They should be in the library, he was nominated for a Booker at one point.

I haven't read a Rose Tremain in ages, must do so.

Thanks again :)

Have you read the Corrections by Jonathan Franzen? Loved it. Pacy and fab.

(I am still searching about for book buy choices )

Have you read Cloud Atlas? I bet you have.

Ooh - not read either of those!

oo yes. I liked cloud atlas. So nostalgic. Quite a few smiths references too.

Nancy Mitford? If you like Jane Austen you may like her novels too. Different era, but similarish wit/observation. Mitford more caustic though.
I've just read and enjoyed 'Wolf Hall' which I didn't think I would like.
Tracey Chevalier - Girl with Pearl Earring
Donna Tartt - The Little Friend (only half recommend this as the ending infuriated me)
Don't read This Much is True - Wally somebody - almost a great book but a really shite ending.

I don't want to give too much away, in fact I've decided not to, but nostalgic is a very good word, pointy.

Smiths references eh? Bring it on!!

Read Wolf Hall, The Little Friend and Girl With A Pearl Earring as well as a couple of Mitfords. The Mitfords irritated me; Wolf Hall frustrated me; Pearl Earring bored me somewhat and The Little Friend annoyed me!

Sorry - am a pain.

Remarkable Creatures - Tracy Chevalier - nice story, you don't have to be especially interested in fossils to enjoy it!

Deaf Sentence - David Lodge, funny and poignant.

I second HC's Robertson Davies recommendation.

Have heard lots of people recommend The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - it looks interesting, but I haven't read it yet.

How about:
Roddy Doyle
John Irving
Armistead maupin

All 'nice' reads in my opinion, though am astonished there are books you haven't read!

Room by Emma Donague
Group by Mary McCarthy

Read most of Roddy Doyle's but only liked The Woman Who walked Into Doors.

Read a few John Irvings and have vowed never to read any more because he drives me insane. Owen Bloody Meany was the final straw.

Read David Lodge. Read Room.

Not read Armistead Maupin though!

Didn't like Remarkable Creatures. Is it also by Chevalier? I find her irritating.

Deaf Sentence was quite good.

armistead maupin is easy reading. if i can't sleep for some reason i re read one of his. he wrote tales of the city - made into a tv series in the 90's.

owen meany gets such a bad press! john irving's written a lot worse....that's not exactly what i'm trying to get at! i really liked a widow for one year and son of the circus. and garp.

wwwid is defo the best doyle but am still fond of the others.

I read and hated Girl With A Pearl earring.

I quite liked A Widow For One Year in places but the sex got sooooooooooo boring. read Hotel New Hampshire too but I can't say it wowed me. Not read Garp - do I really need to try another of his?!

Gawds - I said I was pretty open minded but have read so many already!

Yes also by Chevalier pointydog - I didn't like Girl With a Pearl earring - gave up about a quarter of the way through - but thought RC was good.